A safe place to cool off

Since opening for its 61st year May 23, hundreds of swimmers are taking the plunge into the Camas Municipal Pool every day. The facility is located on the Northeast end of Crown Park, at 120 N.E. 17th Ave. With temperatures expected to surpass 100 degrees this weekend, manager Kathi Sjostrom is adding an extra open swimming session Sunday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The City of Camas is operating Clark County's only outdoor public pool again. A staff of 15 trained high school and college students serve as lifeguards and swimming instructors. When they are not keeping their eyes on the swimmers, they are cleaning and maintaining the facility, or practicing diving and retrieval techniques. "We are doing everything we can to make sure this is a safe and cool place to relax," Sjostrom said. General admission for 13- to 59-year-olds is $4. Youth and senior citzens pay $3. Ten day passes cost $36 for the general public, and $26 for youth and seniors. Twenty-five day passes are $90 for the general public, and $64 for youth and seniors. Children younger than age 6 must be within arms reach of a supervising adult at all times when in the pool. Swimmers younger than 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Pool operation times are subject to change depending on the weather and participation levels. Sjostrom said about 150 people can be in the facility at one time. She expects the pool to be operating at full capacity this weekend. She encourages swimmers to show up early, and be patient and alert for instructions by the lifeguards. The first session of morning swimming lessons started Monday and continues through July 2. The second session begins July 6 and continues through July 16. Online registration opens Thursday, at www.cityofcamas.us/parks. Lessons cost $59 per person. A third session runs from July 27 to Aug. 6. The final session is Aug. 10 to 20. Open swims occur Monday through Saturday from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and every day from 4 to 5:30 p.m. There are also evening open swims from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. Private pool rentals are available in the evenings. Up to 40 swimmers can have the facility to themselves for $115 an hour. Sjostrom said the Parent and Tot Aqua Playgroup is generating a lot of interest. Children 6 and younger can join their parents for underwater exploration, while gaining aquatic experience appropriate for their age. The group meets Fridays and Saturdays, from 1 to 2 p.m., until Aug. 29. The class costs $30 total, or $4 for each session. New to the pool this summer are special themed splash days Wednesdays, starting at 4:30 p.m. Children will also have their own designated splash times Mondays and Thursdays, from 1 to 2 p.m., until Aug. 27. The free open to the community Summer Spash-tacular Water Carnival takes place at Crown Park and in the Camas Municipal Pool Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All participants will race to fill their Splash to Safety event card in hopes of winning free swimming lessons, punch cards, life jackets and water toys. Stations rotate every 15 minutes with in-water and on-deck activities. The Camas Pool will be open until Monday, Sept. 7. Swimming camps, fitness classes and lifeguard training courses are available multiple times throughout the summer. For more information, call 817-1556.

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